I had just two hours to spare this morning, and decided to grab a short session on the river. Light drizzle was falling as I arrived, but it was still sultry and the river was low and clear. For the first hour or more, I could only find two fish rising and had them both without any fuss. They were quite decent trout, but each saved me the bother of unhooking by shaking off the fly themselves just before reaching the waiting net.
The next one was less obliging. I found it quietly taking something just under the surface in a more difficult spot to reach. I could see it quite well in the clear water as it came up now and then with the most gentle of rises, often little more than a dimple revealing its position close under some swaying reeds. Stubbornly, it would have nothing to do with anything I offered, but carried on taking as before.
Without much hope, I took a new fly from the box and clipped it down to a nymph-like shape and gave it a good soaking before sending it on its way. It went under on landing, and the trout had it at once, giving me a pretty good tussle, thrashing all over the place in anger before eventually sliding safely into the waiting net – another modest but beautiful, fit and feisty fish. I slipped it back in, and spent the last quarter of an hour watching a pair of Sedge Warblers carrying food to their young, hidden somewhere in the nearby vegetation. What a lovely river.
Best wishes
Will Bown
The Club is a private one, founded in 1877, of approximately sixty-four members and six Town Rod subscribers. The Club’s waters consist of about 12 miles of wild brown trout & grayling fishing in the main River Frome, River Cerne and River Piddle, together with attendant carriers and side streams. The waters extend both above and below the town of Dorchester and the Club employs a part-time keeper.
The Angling Trust's guidance for anglers during this second lockdown. Fish safely, locally and respect the ‘rule of two’ during lockdown Click Here :-- Advice for Individual Anglers
Price £50 per ticket per day or three days for £100
Day Tickets are only available during the trout season and only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays & Bank Holidays. (season 1st April – 14th October)
The Police have made it quite clear that poaching is a crime in progress covered by the 1968 Theft Act. Members should always call 999 to report it and not phone the keeper. Without a report the police will not be aware of the extent of a problem.
If possible note or photo vehicles.
Stress if you are vulnerable/elderly or at risk of intimidation..
In order to give the call handler an accurate location they recommend putting the “what3words” app on your smartphone. Click here…
Angling’s representative body, the Angling Trust, has a web site for anglers to record sightings of cormorants, goosanders and mergansers throughout the UK: www.cormorantwatch.com The site is easy to use and will gather vital data to help persuade government of the need for action to protect fisheries.
Invasive plants and animals can carry diseases that kill fish, block waterways and banks, interfering with fishing. They can be small and hard to spot, so are easily spread on damp clothing and equipment.
Protect the environment and fishing you enjoy, by keeping your kit free of invasive plants and animals.
To find out more please visit
the NNSS Website